Republican Coleman To Announce For Governor

LITTLE ROCK — Curtis Coleman of Little Rock is expected to become the second announced Republican candidate for governor in 2014 on Thursday.

LITTLE ROCK — Curtis Coleman of Little Rock is expected to become the second announced Republican candidate for governor in 2014 on Thursday.

Coleman, a Little Rock businessman, plans to announce his candidacy at an 11:30 a.m. news conference at the state Capitol, according to a news release from his campaign. Asa Hutchinson is the only other announced Republican candidate.

Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election next year. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter is the only Democrat in the race. He announced his intentions the same day last month that Attorney General Dustin McDaniel dropped out; McDaniel said his candidacy would be a distraction after acknowledging having an extramarital affair with Hot Springs lawyer Andi Davis.

The only other foray into politics by Coleman was a run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010. Then-Rep. John Boozman defeated a field of candidates for the GOP nomination and went on to defeat incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln.

Coleman is chairman of the Institute for Constitutional Policy, an educational nonprofit corporation He was founder and chief executive officer of Safe Foods Corp. of North Little Rock until fall 2009, when he retired.

He also is a syndicated radio personality, providing the daily conservative “Coleman Commentary” on several stations.